Winnipeg Amateur Radio Emergency Service

... Providing voluntary communications in times of need

CANWARN...

(CANadian Weather Amateur Radio Network) is a joint project of Environment Canada
and local Amateur Radio Groups, in which Amateur Radio Operators, trained in the recognition of severe weather elements,
pass reports of sightings of such phenomena directly to their local Weather Offices via VHF and UHF Amateur Radio.

The "ground truthing" provided during these severe weather "Nets" allows Environment Canada to detect and disseminate
warnings to the Public about severe weather events which might normally go unnoticed by normal forecasting and detection
techniques. CANWARN is somewhat similar to the Skywarn project which is in wide use within the United States.

Background

Windsor Amateur Radio Club began a program in MARCH 1987 under a group led by Randy Mawson, now VE3TRW, to supplement
the Environment Canada Severe Weather Watch Program with Amateur Radio Operators trained in severe weather observation.

CANWARN became operational in southern Manitoba on 01 July 1998. It started the following spring in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
It was previously known as Altawatch in Alberta.

Outline

Once a CANWARN Severe Weather Net is activated, Forecasters at the Prairie Storm Prediction Centre
The June 2007 Elie Tornado
will initiate the call-out for CANWARN participants in a particular area to provide reports back to Winnipeg through various repeater
systems. Winnipeg ARES, in conjunction with Environment Canada, has established VE4WWO as a VHF/HF station at the Environment Canada
Offices located at 123 Main Street in Winnipeg.

According to the CANWARN Manual of Standards, during a CANWARN Net no other traffic is allowed on the repeaters in use except during a
CONDITION GREEN.

Participation

Amateur groups or clubs that can communicate via 2 metres to the Winnipeg Weather Office can participate in the Manitoba program.
Amateur operators MUST attend a CANWARN Spotter Training session.
A Training Session
Spotter training sessions have been carried out in Beasejour, East Selkirk, Selkirk, Teulon, Portage la Prairie, Dauphin,
Neepawa, Brandon, Morris and Winnipeg.

Activation (Manitoba)

A CANWARN Net can be activated by one of three people:
1) The Environment Canada Severe Weather Forecaster,
2) The on-duty CANWARN Net Controller, or
3) The CANWARN District Representative.
Once the net has been activated, the Net Controller will notify, by radio or telephone, local members and rural ARES Emergency Coordinatorss
to start local call-out of Rural ARES units.

Resources

Note: In Canada the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the RAC ARES logo are registered trade-marks of Radio
Amateurs of Canada Inc. with registration number TMA716313 issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office of
Industry Canada.
"Any and all use of the RAC AMATEUR EMERGENCY SERVICE AND DESIGN trade-mark requires licence or permission from
Radio Amateurs of Canada Incorporated."